Hmmm...reggae's not really about albums, if you ask me...it's all about 7" singles. Compilations are a good way of tracking down tunes, and in some cases the only way you'll get a copy of a tune...but the long-playing album has never been a reggae thing.

Theres so much good stuff out there its unbelievable. I agree singles are where its at, but this is my (vaguely) top five. (May I recommend you go out and buy these now if you don't have 'em? ;-) (especially if you think Bob Marley is the best there is)

1) Heart of the Congos- The Congos (Blood & Fire) Possibly Lee Perry's finest hour as albums go. Certainly up there with Police and Thieves- Junior Murvin (Island), Party Time- The Heptones (Island), War Inna Babylon- Max Romeo (Island) and To Be A Lover- George Faith (Island(?) Hip-O-Disc(?)). In fact, you might as well get all of these, as well as Super Ape- The Upsetters and Columbia Colly- Jah Lion (Island). Oh, and Conscious Man- Jolly Brothers (Four Leaves?). Phew... Thats a lot innit? ;-) Round it off by buying Arkology, a 3cd collection of Scratch's stuff that Island released a few years back and is now available quite cheaply.

Then, I guess I'd say:

2) Satta Massa Gana- The Abyssinians (Heartbeat) Now, this is simply because I love the Abyssinians and its the best album.. You could go and get something else though; how about Children of Jah- The Chantells and Friends (Blood & Fire) as its also full of great harmonys, tunes all presented in discomix style (with the dubs on the end) and going for about £5 in England. Probably the same elsewhere, or order it off www.bloodandfire.co.uk

After that, I'd get yourselves some Gregory Isaacs- surprised he wasn't on anybodies list. Now, the man can be a little cheesy at times, and his later stuff is often frankly pants, but your collection would thank you if you bought...

3) Cool Ruler/Soon Forward Selection- Gregory Isaacs (Virgin) which is a collection of two albums, minus a few tracks... Of course, most of his albums before '85, when he first went down, are buy on sight IMHO. His later stuff has a few jewels. "Rumours" is a classic 12" everyone should have. As for albums, well Warning, an album he did at King Tubbys shortly before Tubby was shot, is one I've been getting into recently. If you like your late 80's Casio keyboard reggae I can't recommend it more!

Now we're talking Tubby... Where to start???? Hmmmmmmm....... well...... How about some tunes voiced at Tubbys as this is top five REGGAE albums, not dub, eh? Joint 4th then....

4) -Feel Good All Over- Horace Andy - Natty Dread Anthology- Cornell Campbell - Don't Cut Off Your Dreadlocks- Linval Thompson (All 2cd Trojan collections and well worth the dollar...)& -Anything by Johnny Clarke from '75-'84! These are all full of really great reggae, mostly produced by Bunny Lee and a few others. You might as well pick up their dubs too, which are available on sodloads of compilations like the Blood & Fire ones like Dub Like Dirt and Dub Gone Crazy

Oh no- only one choice left????

As this is my favorites, I'll have three albums in joint fifth:

5.1) Blessed Youth- Hugh Mundell (Makasound) Mr. Africa Must be Free by 1983 himself, another classic you should probably get if you don't have it (Its on a Greensleeves cd with its dub). Recorded from when he was 12, died at the age of 20 or something. This is a collection of his 2nd album in both its forms, and I love it. All his albums are worth it though. Again, IMHO. Next we have:

5.2) Any of SoulJazz's Studio One collections. (SoulJazz) Now, I really like Discomixes, but really any of these are jampacked with classics with no filler. If you like Bob you might be surprised to hear his youthful voice on the first tunes he ever did for Clement Dodd.

Arghhhh- only one left... Gulp. Better have one which is more contempory, and shows that Matisyahu is a complete no-talent prat. (All power to him though- nice to see someone ploughing their own furrow) How about:

5.3) Rhythm & Sound w/ The Artists Berlin based techno producer known as Basic Channel do dub excellently, and this is a collection of their tunes... They're great, especially Cornell Campbell's King Of My Empire.

Ah, well. Guess I can't do 5. I missed out Lacksley Castell completely (I prefer his 12"s), and left the dub alone completely... And I forgot Jesus Dread Arrghhh... Ah well. I'll spend the next 10 minutes kicking myself then!

Notes: No "Best Of" compilations in my list. Also, Only 1 album per artist (otherwise it would be full of only 1 or 2 artists hehe).Of course many favs are missing but I feel this is a good representative of my fav crucial roots reggae.

"reggae is spiritually revolutionary, and the message is divine. The message content opens the eyes of the people to the evils of the system…as inside the music are the seeds of destruction of the said shitstem." -- Peter Tosh

I forgot so many, the more I think about it the more impossible it seems. Anyway thought I would just throw UB40, Signing Off in there also. I am also going to see Culture this month. Think about that and envy me!!!!:p

Those who have put out the eyes of the people reproach them of their blindness -John Milton 1642

Culture are OK live, but they tend to do all their songs REALLY QUICKLY live. Sounds a bit like a sped up techno version or something, which is a bit wierd. Joseph Hill is a fucking fantastic entertainer though.

I last saw them in June with The Abyssinians, Luciano, Andrew Tosh and The Rasites. Possibly the best line-up I've seen since that night with Junior Murvin, Cornell Campbell, Linval Thompson, Junior Byles, Horace Andy and Johnny Clarke in Hackney a couple of years ago. Not bad for a nights entertainment, eh?

Great list..."Door Peeper" is toooo heavy for words (and toooo expensive for me to get a copy on 7"!). Anyone checked the Radiodread LP yet? Some quality versions, stands on it's own as a reggae album...I've posted the version of Karma Police HERE...plenty more where that came from...PM me for soulseek/MSN...

I dont think its possible to say what albums are the best there is so many of them so many diffrent artists so many voices! Or maybe Im noob in this...

"Never let the children cry!""Until the colour of a man's skin Is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes Me say War!""Imagine all the people, living life in peace""Hip-Hop doesnt divide us, but connects us!"